The song became the unofficial anthem for the Assassin's Creed Valhalla expansion, . The game follows Odin (Havi) as he journeys through the mythical realm of Svartalfheim. Parrish’s metal cover perfectly mirrors the game’s themes:
The lyrics of "My Mother Told Me" are rooted in the . Specifically, they are attributed to the Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson, written when he was just seven years old after committing his first kill. The lyrics translate to:
While the poem is over a thousand years old, it gained massive modern popularity through the TV show Vikings , where it was performed as a haunting folk chant. Peyton Parrish’s Sonic Transformation The song became the unofficial anthem for the
: The track blends traditional Nordic instruments (like the taglharpa) with distorted electric guitars and cinematic percussion.
: Ubisoft leaned heavily into the "Skaldic" tradition for Valhalla , and Parrish’s viral success helped cement the game's identity within the "Viking-core" aesthetic on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Why It Resonates Specifically, they are attributed to the Viking poet
: Parrish utilizes deep, rasping "Viking growls" that evoke the image of a warrior on the front lines.
Parrish took this minimalist folk chant and infused it with the raw power of . His version is defined by: : Ubisoft leaned heavily into the "Skaldic" tradition
Peyton Parrish’s "My Mother Told Me" tapped into a collective fascination with heritage and "warrior spirit." By combining the historical weight of Old Norse lyrics with the aggressive energy of metal, he created a piece of media that feels both ancient and cutting-edge. It is the sound of a longship hitting the waves—loud, relentless, and undeniably epic.
